University of St. Thomas Athletics
Gustavus Adolphus
Football escapes with 10-7 overtime win at Gustavus
10/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Freshman placekicker Adam Valenta's 24-yard field goal and Jeremy Krentz' interception let St. Thomas hold on for Saturday's 10-7 overtime victory over host Gustavus on a windy, wet day for MIAC football in St. Peter.
St. Thomas (6-1 overall, 5-1 MIAC) kept alive its MIAC title and postseason hopes and stayed 1 1-2 games behind Concordia (7-0 MIAC), a 31-6 winner over Augsburg. The Cobbers, who wrapped up an NCAA playoff berth and secured an MIAC title share, can win the MIAC outright with a win at St. Olaf next Saturday or with one Tommie defeat.
Valenta's kick was the Tommies' first game-winning field goal in 11 seasons. The last previous one was Marty Engel's 28-yarder with 58 seconds left that beat Concordia 44-43 in October 1993.
It was just the second overtime game ever for UST, both victories, since the format was adopted in the 1980s. St. Thomas' only other overtime game was a 29-28, two-OT victory at home over Augsburg in 1998.
The teams traded second-period TD runs and it was all defense after that. The Tommies had a chance to win in regulation in the game's final minute. After a high snap on a punt try, UST recovered at the GAC 26-yard-line with 35 seconds left. After a pass completion to Joel Korte inside the GAC 15-yard-line in the final 30 seconds, UST soph QB Ryan Jansen was picked off, the Toms' first offensive turnover in 12 quarters.
Gustavus won the toss for OT and took defense. Peter Ridley ran 14 yards on first down to get to the GAC 11. The drive stalled and Valenta drilled what proved to be the game-winning points.
On Gustavus' overtime possession, Krentz picked off the Gusties freshman QB Jordan Stolp on second down to seal the win. The Tommies had three interceptions on the day and held Gustavus to 159 yards of offense. Ben Kessler had two sacks and three tackles for loss and ran his streak to 10 consecutive games with at least one sack. Justin Thom had an interception and a blocked punt and Paul Sommerstad also had a pickoff.
The Tommies have won five in a row and pulled out their fifth close victory of the season. UST moved into second place alone in the conference race with St. John's 21-19 loss at St. Olaf. A win over Hamline at home next Saturday would lock up a top-two MIAC finish for the Tommies, who also play Nov. 13 at St. John's.
Ridley rushed for 101 yards on 31 carries for his third consecutive 100-yard game. Walter Dosh ran for 78 against a tough Gustie defense.
Gustavus (1-7, 1-5) lost its third MIAC game by five or less points. UST now leads the all-time series with the Gusties 36-35-2, and seven of the last nine games have been decided by three or less points.
